Grappling Finger Strap

In grappling and no-gi, there is no fabric to hold on to. You fight for wrists, underhooks, collar ties and two-on-ones, and your fingers take the shock of every hand fight. A finger that catches on an elbow or a shoulder during a scramble can bend sideways in a split second. That's why so many grapplers strap their fingers before training.

Why grapplers protect their fingers

• Hand fighting: wrist control, two-on-ones and grip breaks load the same finger joints, round after round.
• Scrambles: a finger caught on an arm or a shoulder while the position changes gets twisted sideways. That is the classic way to sprain the middle joint of the finger. Read: why your fingers take such a beating in BJJ.
• Sweat: no-gi is fast and slippery, and tape comes loose quickly on sweaty fingers.

The problem with tape

A roll of tape works, but you have to wrap it before every session, it comes loose with sweat halfway through a round, and it ends up in the bin with sticky residue on your skin. Over a season of training several times a week, the rolls add up. Compare the alternatives to tape.

Towa: a reusable finger strap for grappling

Each Towa strap is a single piece: two rings joined by a bridge. Slide it onto the finger, one ring on each side of the joint, and the bridge keeps the joint supported during the hand fight.

• Fast: on and off in seconds, no scissors needed.
• Stays in place: nothing to come unstuck, it stays on until the last round.
• Custom fit: heat-mold it once so it fits your finger (see the fitting guide).
• Reusable and washable: one set lasts hundreds of sessions.

Which set for grappling?

• 2-hands set: 8 straps. Both hands work in every hand fight, so this is the natural choice for no-gi.
• 1-hand set: 4 straps, if only one hand needs support.

Not sure about your size? The size guide gives it to you in one minute with your phone and any card the size of a bank card.

FAQ

Do Towa straps get in the way of hand fighting?
They support the joint without covering your palm or fingertips, so you keep your grip and your feel.

Gi or no-gi?
Both: the strap sits on the finger, whatever you are gripping. For gi grips, see our BJJ finger strap page.

How do I clean them?
Wash with soap and water after training, then let them air dry.

Also training judo or rugby? See our judo finger strap and rugby finger protection pages, and the Sports page.